Mission Statement

To utilize satellite and other remotely sensed data to explore and understand the linkages between water in all its forms, the land and life on Earth.

GSFC’s Hydrospheric and Biospheric research supports NASA and the nation with a world class workforce that conceive, develop and apply space-based technologies and observations to address issues of importance to society, including the effects of climate change on life on Earth. Particular research areas include studies of the Earth’s Land Ecosystems, Cryosphere, Land Surface Hydrology and Ocean Ecosystems.

New NASA Earth Science Missions Expand View of Our Home Planet

Image Credit: NASA.

Over the past 12 months NASA has added five missions to its orbiting Earth-observing fleet – the biggest one-year increase in more than a decade.

NASA Study Shows Global Sea Ice Diminishing, Despite Antarctic Gains

Arctic sea ice coverage has been on the decline since scientists started monitoring its extent with satellites in 1979. The lowest extent on record was reached on Sept. 16, 2012, and it was approximately half the size of the average extent from 1979 to 2000. These maps show the minimum extent of Arctic sea ice in October of 1979 and 2013 as observed by satellite. October is typically the global maximum for sea ice, though it is just past the minimum in the Arctic.